Ocean City Fire Department Invites Community to Annual Open House at Asbury Avenue Station

As communities across the country observe National Fire Prevention Month, the Ocean City Fire Department and IAFF Local 4032 are opening their doors to island residents and visitors for an evening of education, family-friendly fun, and live demonstrations.

The department’s annual Open House will take place on Thursday, October 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the downtown fire headquarters located at 550 Asbury Avenue. Admission is free, and the entire community is invited to attend.

Organized by off-duty firefighters from IAFF Local 4032, who volunteer their time to coordinate and run the event, the Open House gives neighbors of all ages a firsthand look at the equipment, training, and teamwork required to protect America’s Greatest Family Resort year-round.

Demonstrations, Helicopter Landing, and Family Activities

This year’s event features an action-packed lineup of educational exhibits and interactive activities designed to keep kids engaged while teaching vital safety habits:

• Live Safety Demonstrations: Watch OCFD firefighters showcase active rescue techniques, gear demonstrations, and controlled fire-suppression evolutions.

• Helicopter Landing: A standout highlight for kids and adults alike, featuring a live landing and an up-close look at emergency aeromedical aviation.

• Atlantic City Electric Demonstration: Live wire and electrical safety displays illustrating common household and neighborhood hazards.

• Family Fun: Free face-painting, food, beverages, and take-home educational handouts.

• Meet Your First Responders: Tour the apparatus bays, explore front-line fire trucks and EMS rigs, and meet the crews serving the island.

Why National Fire Prevention Month Matters

Held every October, National Fire Prevention Month—anchored by Fire Prevention Week—traces its roots back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed more than 17,000 structures. Established federally to ensure the tragedy was never forgotten, the month serves as a nationwide call to action focusing on life-saving home safety habits before emergencies happen.

Today, fire prevention education is more critical than ever. Modern home furnishings and synthetic materials burn significantly faster than natural materials used decades ago, often reducing safe escape time in a residential fire from roughly 15 minutes down to three minutes or less.

Key Home Safety Priorities Highlighted During Prevention Month:

• Working Smoke Alarms: Working smoke detectors cut the risk of dying in a residential fire by roughly half. Detectors should be installed on every level of the home, inside every bedroom, and outside each sleeping area. Test batteries monthly and replace alarms every 10 years.

• Two Ways Out: Every family should map out a clear home escape plan with two exits from each room and an agreed-upon outdoor meeting place (such as a specific mailbox, tree, or neighbor’s porch).

• Cooking & Heating Awareness: Unattended cooking remains the leading cause of residential fires nationwide, while seasonal space heaters and unattended candles spike fire risks during the cooler autumn and winter months.

• Coastal Awareness: In a coastal barrier island community where many properties sit close together, rapid reporting and swift community awareness can prevent a small flare-up from turning into a multi-structure hazard.

Event Details & Contact

For additional details regarding the open house or general home fire safety information, community members can contact the Ocean City Fire Department directly at (609) 525-9182.